Report: Connecticut gun shop had history of violations

Published April 11. 2013 7:00AM | Updated April 11. 2013 7:02AM

Associated Press

East Windsor (AP) — Federal authorities say a Connecticut gun shop that legally sold weapons used in the Newtown school shootings lost its federal firearms license after the December massacre because of hundreds of violations over the past several years.

A document prepared by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives explains why Riverview Gun Sales in East Windsor lost its license. The document was obtained Wednesday by WFSB-TV.

Riverview lawyer Rob Altchiler told the TV station that shooter Adam Lanza's mother, Nancy Lanza, bought the Bushmaster rifle used to kill 20 first-graders and six adults from Riverview, as well as a Sig Sauer handgun found at the school. Altchiler disputed the violations were serious enough to warrant license revocation.

Authorities say the hundreds of violations included guns sales without background checks.